Finding a bargain among starting pitchers is a rare feat, but these four free agents could offer exceptional value to MLB teams in 2026. The quest for affordable starting pitchers is a challenging one, but these undervalued arms might just be the hidden gems you've been searching for!
Starting pitchers often command the highest salaries on the open market, with MLB teams spending an average of $33.8 million on starting rotations last season, according to Spotrac. This makes it difficult to find value at this position, as most deals come at a premium. However, when a team manages to sign a starting pitcher at a reasonable price, it can be a game-changer, providing great relative value.
Let's explore some of the remaining free agent pitchers who could be undervalued and make a significant impact in 2026. We'll focus on those expected to sign short-term deals due to perceived blemishes in their performance or injury history.
Zack Littell, RHP:
Littell might not have the most impressive strikeout numbers or radar-gun-popping stuff, but he excels in other areas. Since last season, he's tied with Tarik Skubal for the lowest walk rate (4.5%) among qualified pitchers, a skill that can be built upon. Additionally, Littell's ability to generate swings is exceptional. In 2023, when he transitioned from a reliever to a starter, he adjusted his arsenal, increasing his splitter usage and adding a two-seamer. This change resulted in an impressive swing rate of 51.4% in 2025, ranking him sixth among pitchers with at least 150 innings. His ability to compel batters to swing more often leads to fewer walks and more innings pitched. Littell ranked 11th in innings last season and has consistently thrown over 340 innings since 2024 with a lower ERA than many of his peers. At just 30 years old, he's a sneaky innings eater with a unique skill set.
Aaron Civale, RHP:
Civale was once highly regarded, as evidenced by the Rays' willingness to trade top prospect Kyle Manzardo for him in 2023. However, his stock has dipped due to inconsistent performance, with an ERA of 4.85 last season and back-to-back campaigns with less than 1 WAR. But there's more to Civale than meets the eye. In the second half of last season, among pitchers with at least 40 innings, Civale ranked 22nd in strikeout-minus-walk percentage (20.5%), an elite rate in a metric that accounts for what pitchers can control. His second-half SIERA of 3.39 was the best among all remaining free-agent starters, even outperforming Valdez. Civale's performance improvement coincided with a change in his pitch mix, increasing his curveball usage. This unique combination makes him the only pitcher in the second half with a cutter-curveball mix accounting for at least 50% of his offerings. Civale could be a valuable addition to a rotation or as a swingman.
Chris Bassitt, RHP:
As Bassitt enters his age-37 season, there are concerns about his declining velocity and ability to miss bats. However, he remains incredibly durable, having logged at least 150 innings in every season since 2021. Bassitt's deep arsenal allows him to rely on guile and creativity, even as his stuff diminishes. He continues to experiment, dropping his arm angle last season, which created more horizontal movement across his pitches. His curveball's run value improved, and his full-season SIERA of 3.92 was better than the league average. Bassitt still has some fuel left in the tank and could be a reliable innings eater.
Lucas Giolito, RHP:
Given his pedigree and solid 3.41 ERA last season, it's surprising that Giolito is still available. Teams are likely concerned about his expected ERA of 4.99 and his injury history, which includes Tommy John surgery and an internal brace procedure that kept him out for all of 2024. However, this injury history could work in his favor, as he's likely to sign a low-risk, high-upside, short-term deal. Giolito's strength could return a year removed from surgery, and he has the potential to be a strong strikeout arm once again (26% K-rate in 2023). Additionally, Giolito was one of the unluckiest pitchers in baseball in full counts last season, walking 30 and striking out 17. If he can improve his luck in full counts, he could be a valuable mid-rotation contributor at a discounted price.
These four free agents offer a unique blend of skills and potential, and for the right team, they could provide exceptional value. Will any of these pitchers find their way onto a roster and prove their worth? Only time will tell, but it's an intriguing prospect for MLB teams looking for a bargain in the starting pitcher market.
